Back From the Assembly

Well, I want to first give praise to God! He came through in a big way.

At first, it didn't look like I was going to get to go to the Assembly, but I was under too much conviction that it was what I was supposed to do, and I couldn't see myself not doing it.

The Lord really opened my eyes, as I studied and gave me more inspiration that I could have even hoped for. I spent weeks on the message that I was supposed to preach, studying, refining, and just getting it into my heart. At last, I was ready to go, and I had stepped out on faith to buy the ticket. Our latest baby, Tabitha Jeanne, was born right on time (actually, a couple of days ahead of schedule), so I at least got to be there to see her born and to help out for the next several days.

I left here on Sunday, after the morning service. I had to cover a couple of stories on the West Shore before I headed out. Then, I had to stop in Cor D'Alene, Idaho, in order to e-mail in all of my articles. THAT was a DISASTER.

I stopped at Star Bucks, thinking I could wi-fi there. They told me it would cost $10 to do so. I got on the cell phone and was going to call my boss to see if I could be an hour or two late in getting them to him, so that I could just wi-fi at the airport, but I left my briefcase sitting by the van while I was on the phone (I was in the van, and I thought that I put it inside with me). Anyway, to make a long story short, someone took the briefcase before I realized it was gone.

I lost all of my notes for the Assembly, my DELL Inspiron laptop, my DELL AXIM v51 (pock PC), a nice mp3 player, several memory cards and a bunch of computer peripherals. I also lost all my allergy medication and some non-replaceable personal items of sentimental value.

At first, I was devastated. I couldn't believe it was gone. I called everyone and asked them to pray. I asked all around, and noone had seen or heard anything. I even reported the theft to the local police. NOTHING.

Of course, I had to call my boss and tell him what had happened. There would be no articles for this issue of the West Shore News.

At last, I had to leave and get to the airport. I was still quite upset, but I kept telling myself that I didn't have time for this, since I had to concentrate on bringing the Word of God at the Assembly and ministering what the Lord had given to me.

I had already been preaching messages about how the Lord was leading us to step up and meet the challenges of evangelizing, and that there would be a cost associated for each one of us. The enemy would fight tooth and nail, because that's his job--to discourage us to the point that we are no longer effective in what the Lord is calling us to do.

I resolved not to think about it and to get back into the mind of Christ, seeking the Lord to give me the message again. He did so, and I rewrote the message while I was on the plane. I kept on praying that the Lord would prevent anything else from happening, before I got a chance to preach.

When I got to Cleveland, TN, I retyped the message on Isaiah's laptop and printed it the next day at the Assembly tabernacle, on the campus of Lee College. The Lord surely came through and the message went even better than expected. PRAISE THE LORD.

I later followed up on the theft. Still nothing. I had to drive back home empty handed.

Today, I will type up my articles for the next issue of the West Shore News on the desktop PC. I am not sure what I will do about replacing what I have lost, but I'll have to leave it in the Lord's hands.

It's good to be home. It's comforting to be with my wife and children again (and with a certain week-and-a-half-old little girl).

I still long for everyone's prayers, that the Lord will provide. I know that, in one way or another, He will. There are still many battles to fight, here in the Flathead Valley, and I don't want to let Him down.

God bless you all, and thank you for all of your prayers, as well as for your continued prayers that we will soon see the silver lining in all of this.

Good is good, even when circumstances are not, and we know that He works all things together for good, to them who are called according to His purpose.